Method of packaging

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for packaging products, such as assemblies of bacon slices and the like, which are advanced from a supply source in random order on backing boards having identifying indicia for controlling certain of the subsequent packaging operations and the application of the proper one of two differnt labels according to the indicia on the respective boards. The assemblies are advanced to the horizontal top run of a lower conveyor carrying successive package platters, past an electric eye which scans the identifying indicia and which actuates mechanism to position or set a series of cams carried on the back face of each of the packaging platters for controlling subsequent operations. An upper conveyor carrying package forming platters for mating with the platters on the lower conveyor lays down a covering web and forms vacuumized and sealed packages between pairs of mating platters. The cams control operation of mechanism for applying adhesive to the backing board prior to advance of the boards to the upper conveyor and also a label applying device beyond the upper conveyor which has a dual label supply magazine and an associated adhesive activator and applicator for applying to the packages either of two labels according to the cam setting on the bottom of the platter on the lower conveyor which carries the package. The apparatus includes a platen identification printer and a code dater preceding and following the labeling device. Upon the application of the label, the packages are transferred to the bottom run of an outfeed conveyor having package suspending pins which carry the connected packages between a vertically reciprocating trimming die and a co-operating bottom anvil for severing the packages from the web so as to permit discharge of the separated packages from the apparatus with the waste resulting from the trimming operation being forced loose from the pins and wound on a reel at the end of the outfeed conveyor.

United States Patent [1 1 Jensen et al.

[ Dec. 25, 1973 METHOD OF PACKAGING [75] Inventors: Hans A. Jensen, Madison; Melvin M. Layman, Waunakee, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Oscar Mayer & Co., Inc., Madison,

Wis.

[22] Filed: July 29, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 167,221

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 16,787, March 5, 1970, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. 53/14, 53/64 [51] Int. Cl. B65b 57/00, B65c 9/08 [58] Field of Search 53/30, 64, 65, 131, 53/137, 184, 14; 156/350, 360, 363, 364, 384

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,194,710 7/1965 Stremke et al 156/360 3,393,757 7/1968 Tonies 177/3 3,431,699 3/1969 Eppenberger 53/131 X 3,529,396 9/1970 Young et a1. 53/184 X 3,533,215 10/1970 Ollier 53/184 3,267,639 8/1966 Ollier et al 53/184 X Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly Assistant ExaminerNeil Abrams Attorney-Fred S. Lockwood et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for packaging products, such as assemblies of bacon slices and the like, which are advanced from a supply source in random order on backing boards having identifying indicia for controlling certain of the subsequent packaging operations and the application of the proper one of two differnt labels according to the indicia on the respective boards. The assemblies are advanced to the horizontal top run of a lower conveyor carrying successive package platters, past an electric eye which scans the identifying indicia and which actuates mechanism to position or set a series of cams carried on the back face of each of the packaging platters for controlling subsequent operations. An upper conveyor carrying package forming platters for mating with the platters on the lower conveyor lays down a covering web and forms vacuumized and sealed packages between pairs of mating platters. The cams control operation of mechanism for applying adhesive to the backing board prior to advance of the boards to the upper conveyor and also a label applying device beyond the upper conveyor which has a dual label supply magazine and an associated adhesive activator and applicator for applying to the packages either of two labels according to the cam setting on the bottom of the platter on the lower conveyor which carries the package. The apparatus includes a platen identification printer and a code dater preceding and following the labeling device. Upon the application of the label, the packages are transferred to the bottom run of an outfeed conveyor having package suspending pins which carry the connected packages between a vertically reciprocating trimming die and a co-operating bottom anvil for severing the packages from the web so as to permit discharge of the separated packages from the apparatus with the waste resulting from the trimming operation being forced loose from the pins and wound on a reel at the end of the outfeed conveyor.

3 Claims, 37 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEEZS i973 SHEET PAIEN DECZ 5 ma SHEET [130 17 PATENTED 3.78CL486 saw on or 17 PATENTED UEBZ '5 I975 sum as nr 17 PATENTED 3,780,486-

sum as or 17 PATENTED 3.7804186 SHEET 11 or 17 m NM W Q "v PATENTEU DECZS 1973 SHEET 12 0F 1 III PMENTED 3, 780.486

sum in or 11 PATENTED DEC 2 51973 SHEET 15 HF .17

sum 17 or 17 PATENTED UECZ 51973 METHOD OF PACKAGING This application is a division of our application Ser. No. 16,787, filed Mar. 5, 1970 which issued on Feb. 29, 1972 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,065.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically packaging and labeling products which are advanced on backing boards bearing identifying indicia which is utilized to control the packaging and labeling operations.

In the packaging of certain products such as, for example, sliced bacon or similar products, which may be taken from a supply source in batches of predetermined uniform weight or size but which may be of varying grade or quality, it may be desirable to enclose successive batches of the product in identical packaging materials and place on the packages different labels according to the identifying indicia on the product assemblies. This may, of course, be done by seggregating the product assemblies which are to have the same label applied and packaging and labeling them separately, or by providing for seggregation and separate labeling after the product is enclosed in the packaging elements. These procedures, however, which involve separate lines for the packaging and/or labeling operations do not lend themselves to high speed production. It is a general object, therefore, to provide a system and apparatus for packaging products of the character described which enables all of the packaging and labeling operations to be carried out automatically with provisions for initial product identification and control of the means for accomplishing the package forming operations and selective label application in accordance with the product identification.

it is a more particular object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging assemblies of bacon slices, or the like, which assemblies are provided with an identifying means which is employed to control subsequent packaging and label applying operations so as to form uniform packages and apply a label to each package according to the identifying means.

it is another object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging a product such as groups of bacon strips or the like which are adapted to receive labels from at least two separate stacks thereof which product assemblies having identifying means thereon are advanced in random order to a packaging area where successive assemblies are enclosed in a packaging material after which a label is automatically drawn from a stack in accordance with the identifying means and pressed onto each package.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging a product such as groups of bacon strips or the like which involves product assemblies of different character requiring different labeling wherein the product assemblies are provided with identifiable marking and advanced to a sensing device which identifies the particular assembly and sets up-a mechanism for controlling the packaging and labeling operations subsequently carried out so as to automatically apply the proper label to each package according to the marking on the product assembly and to disable certain operations when there is an interruption in the advance of the product assemblies.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and a machine for packaging and labeling products or groups of products which are not uniform as to quality or the like and which require the application of different labels for purposes of identification wherein the products or groups of products are provided with an identifying means and advanced to a wrapping and labeling apparatus which includes a sensing device actuated by the identifying means and a mechanism for controlling the operation of the wrapping and labeling devices which is responsive to the sensing device so as to automatically accomplish the wrapping and labeling of the packages in a continuous single line operation at relatively high speed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for packaging groups of bacon slices or the like which are initially provided with an identifying means according to grade or other criteria, wherein the package forming groups or assemblies are advanced in random succession to an identifying area where each assembly is identified by a sensing device and fed to a package forming and label applying apparatus and wherein control mechanism is provided for subsequent packaging and labeling operations which is adapted to be set in response to the operation of the sensing device, with the label applying apparatus including a dual stack label magazine and associated mechanism for automatically feeding a label from one of the stacks according to the product grade as determined by the setting of the control mechanism by the sensing device.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for packaging groups or assemblies of bacon slices or similar products wherein the products are initially examined and placed on backing boards which are provided with an identifying means, the backing boards with the products thereon are fed in random order to a package and labeling apparatus in which the backing boards are first advanced through an area where the identification of the board is accomplished by a sensing device which operates to set a series of control cams carried on each of a series of package forming platters on a continuously moving conveyor on which the backing boards are carried past a printer which applies a continuous marginal adhesive pattern to each board as it is advanced to a cooperating package forming, platter carrying conveyor,

the platters on the latter laying down a continuous web of covering film over the package assemblies carried on the platters on the first conveyor and mating with the same, with provision for evacuating and sealing the package assemblies, after which the connected packages are advanced past a platter identification printer to a label applying device which includes a dual label magazine and associated mechanism operative under the control of the preset cams to selectively apply labels to the packages, the labeled packages are passed beneath a code dater and transferred to an outfeed conveyor which advances the connected packages beneath a cutting die which is operated to trim each package and release the same from the web with the remaining material in the web being wound on a wastereceiving reel at the end of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the method and apparatus which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B constitute a plan view of a machine for packaging assemblies of bacon slices or similar products which embodies the principal features of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B constitute a side elevation of the packaging machine of FIGS. 1A and 18, with portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view to a larger scale at the entrance end of the machine as shown in FIG. 2B with the side plates removed and with portions broken away or omitted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale, and with portions broken FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 with portions broken away and to a larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8, to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 2B to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross section showing a portion of FIG. 10, to a still larger scale;

FIG. 12 is a view taken on the line 12-12 ofFIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 12, showing the far side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 28, to a larger scale;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 19 is a largely elevational view showing a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 2A, to a larger scale and with portions broken away and in section;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view showing a portion of FIG. 2A to a still larger scale;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation showing another portion of FIG. 2A to a larger scale;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21, the view being taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross section taken on the line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a cross section taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation showing a portion of FIG. 2A to a larger scale;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a partial side elevational view at the outfeed end of the machine, the view being taken with the side plates removed and showing part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 to a larger scale;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 28-28 of FIG. 27, to a still larger scale;

FIG. 29 is a view taken on the line 29-29 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 31-31 of FIG. 30, to a larger scale;

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view, largely schematic, showing the packaging and labeling operations which are carried out by the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 30;

FIG. 33 is a plan view, largely schematic, showing the operations illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 34 is a plan view ofa packaging board on which the product is supported as it is fed into the machine; and

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the completed package produced with the illustrated method and machine.

The method and apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings is particularly designed for the packaging of assemblies of bacon slices which are advanced on a discharge conveyor from a bacon slicing machine with the assemblies being such as to constitute, for example, a 1 pound package and being subject to visual inspection permitting the assemblies to be judged as to the quality or grade under which they should be marketed. The operator or inspector, in the packaging system illustrated, checks the weight of each assembly of the bacon slices and makes any correction necessary, after which each assembly is placed on a backing board B (FIGS. 33 and 34) which bears on its margin an identifying insignia, the different grades of the product, as determined by the inspector, being placed on backing boards of the same structural character except for grade identification insignia or marking. The product assemblies A with supporting boards B are then advanced to the packaging machine in random order, that is, in no particular order of succession with regard to the identifying indicia on the supporting boards B. The package assemblies A enter the infeed portion 10 (FIGS. 18, 2B and 3) on a chute-like conveyor assembly 11 which was associated means for identifying the grade indicia on the package assembly as the latter is positioned on a bottom package forming platter 12 advancing on the top run of a lower conveyor 13, each board supporting platter 12 having an associated set of cam plates, the position of which is controlled by operation of a scanning device responsive to the indicia on the backing board B as it passes the same. The cam plates control subsequent operations on the assembly A which is carried on the platter 12. The conveyor 13 advances the platters 12 past an adhesive applicator apparatus, indicated at 14, which prints on the margin of the backing board a continuous adhesive pattern, the adhesive apparatus being inoperative if no backing board is present. The conveyor 13 extends beneath a top conveyor 15 which carries package forming platters 16 adapted to mate with the platters 12 on the lower conveyor 13 and to lay down on the latter a convering web W which is delivered by a web infeed conveyor assembly 17 and guided around the infeed end of the upper packaging conveyor 15. The platters 16 which are carried on the conveyor 15 have associated means for evacuating the packages which are formed between the mating platters and for sealing around the margins of the same. As the conveyor 13 advances the platters 12 beyond the upper platter conveyor 15 the sealed packages are advanced beneath a printing device 18 (FIG. 2A) which applies to the margin of each package numbers, or the 

1. A method of packaging which comprises advancing in random succession products supported on backing boards which have means for identification thereon which are to be packaged and provided with a label selected from a supply thereof according to predetermined identification of the product which comprises subjecting the advancing products to a scanning device which identifies each successive product and sets a mechanism for controlling subsequent packaging and labeling operations according to identification of the product, enclosing said successive products and their backing boards to form packages by applying a covering film material in sealed relation to the margins of the backing board, advancing the successive packages thus formed to a label applying station, providing a separate stack of labels at the label applying station corresponding to each identification on said backing boards, automatically selecting a label from one of said stacks for each package in accordance with the setting of said control mechanism and the identification of the package backing board, and applying the selected label to its package.
 2. A method of packaging which comprises advancing in random succession predetermined quantities of a product which are supported on individual backing boards and which are adapted to be packaged by applying a covering film over the backing board and product assemblies and providing thereon a label selected according to predetermined identification on the backing board, which method comprises subjecting the advancing assemblies to a scanning device which identifies the same and sets a mechanism for controlling subsequent packaging and labeling operations according to the identification on the backing board, applying a continuous film of packaging mAterial over the successive assemblies, sealing portions of the film material to marginal portions of each backing board in areas surrounding the associated product, advancing the successive packages thus formed to a label applying station, selecting a label for each package in accordance with the setting of said control mechanism, applying the label to each package, transferring the packages to a trimming area and trimming away excess material in the backing board margins so as to separate the packages and trim the same to uniform size.
 3. A method of packaging as set forth in claim 2 and applying the label to each package by first pressing a margin of the label into adhesive engagement with a portion of the advancing package and wiping the same down over a portion of the product. 